Afterward, Luke expressed his gratitude, with a little hitch at first.

“Hold on, I dropped my hat. I’ve been out there drinkin’, listening to y’all,” Luke said, nodding toward the band.

“Hey, Orange Beach,” Luke continued, undeterred, “here on the day after the Fourth of July, the birth of our country, you know why this is a wonderful and beautiful country? You all understand why?

“Because you can be a South Georgia boy and dream of making music like this band, Alabama. And one day in this country you can get onstage . . . and you can sing with people you thought it’d never be possible to sing with.

“So thank y’all for making that happen.”

Alabama & Friends is due out in September. Also expected to be contributing tracks are Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood and Toby Keith.